The bodies of a pair of friends who disappeared while kayaking off Southhampton over the weekend were pulled from the water late Sunday and early Monday, authorities said.
Shane Garcia, 27, and Aaron Montemarano, 25, were last heard from when they sent a selfie to Garcia’s girlfriend from Shinnecock Bay on Saturday, Southampton police said.
When the men didn’t return from their jaunt Saturday night, the worried woman reported them missing, prompting a search of the area by state troopers and the Southampton Town Marine Patrol Unit.
Shane Garcia and Aaron Montemarano sent a selfie to Garcia’s girlfriend Saturday, then disappeared — before Garcia’s body was found Sunday.
The search turned up two kayaks and two paddles that washed ashore near Shinnecock East County Park on Sunday, cops said.
Suffolk County police deployed drones, ATVs and a helicopter and divers with New York State Police as well as US Coast Guard crews, joined in the search and rescue mission, police said in a statement late Sunday.
The 27-year-old kayaker’s body was discovered in the waters off Southampton late Sunday and his 25-year-old pal’s was found the next day. Facebook / Jessica SarahDivers found Garcia’s body Sunday night and later found Montemarano’s remains when the search was picked up again early Monday.
“As part of the search, the team conducted SONAR and dive operations in the bay. Tragically, both kayakers were deceased, with URT locating and recovering one kayaker yesterday afternoon and the other kayaker earlier today,” state police said in a release posted Monday.
Police said they received the missing persons’ report around 8:45 p.m. Saturday and later found Garcia’s work van parked at the end of Shinnecock Avenue in Hampton Bays.
Garcia’s worried girlfriend called the police when they didn’t return home. Facebook / Jessica Sarah
The pair were near the Ponquogue Bridge before disappearing. Edmund J CoppaThe two men were last known to be in the water near the Ponquogue Bridge around Shinnecock Bay when they sent Garcia’s girlfriend the photo earlier Saturday, according to police.
Southampton police are still investigating the pair’s disappearance. No causes of death have been announced.






